For February and March a new Swedish series for Rallycross drivers and racers from other motorsports has been scheduled to entertain the fans during the usual months of hibernation. ‘RallyX On Ice’ should run over four events – at least in case the weather god agrees…

No, it is not the first occasion that Rallycross drivers race their machinery on tracks covered with snow and ice. Beside the Scandinavian ice-racing series on frozen lakes, where Rallycross stars of the past were regular competitors, proper Swedish Rallycross tracks like Sipsjöbanan, Westombanan and Höljesbanan have been venues for frosty events during wintertime. “Competition is part of our club’s 40 years anniversary, and that we can also do a winter event now fits very well. The first race on the Höljes track was organised on February 1 1976,” says Morgan Östlund, president of Finnskoga MK, who reveals that his club also plans to run a competition for SuperCars on February 7, as part of the second of the four events.

Each of the four rounds shall see at least a dozen of Rallycross Lites vehicles on its entry list. © QNIGAN/ERC24

The new Swedish ‘RallyX On Ice’ series will get to grips soon. © QNIGAN/ERC24

However, ‘RallyX On Ice’ is a new Swedish racing series, thought up by Swedish Rallycross promoter STCC AB in cooperation with Andréas Eriksson’s OlsbergMSE outfit. It shall consist of four events, starting on February 1 on the Örebrotravet trotting-course. Three rounds will be organised alongside other important sports events and are promised to be covered by television. The series is open for drivers with OMSE’s SuperCar Lites vehicles and it is claimed that there will be an entry of at least 12 Lites competitors for each of the four rounds. “The idea of a winter series has been with me for a long time and now that we have enough cars to secure a good starting field it is really time to launch the project,” says Andréas Eriksson, team principal of OlsbergsMSE.

Reigning Swedish Rallycross Champion Sebastian Eriksson will also be a man to watch out for on snow and ice. © QNIGAN/ERC24

• The 2015 ‘RallyX On Ice’ calendar:
• February 1: Örebrotravet at Örebro; as part of the ‘SM Veckan’ [SRC Week]
• February 7: Höljesbanan at Höljes
• February 13: Färjestadstravet at Karlstad; alongside the ‘Rally Sweden’
• March 13 & 14: Åresjön at Åre; alongside the ‘FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup’
• Note: All dates are subject to weather conditions!

Top photo: Rallycross on ice is nothing new, but the ‘RallyX On Ice’ series will be. © QNIGAN/ERC24